IMPACTS OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ON DISEASE TRANSMISSION: AN ANALYSIS FROM A ONE HEALTH PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/revgeov17n1-023Keywords:
One Health, Natural Disasters, Infectious Diseases, Sanitation, Public HealthAbstract
Natural disasters such as floods, windstorms, typhoons, and tornadoes have intensified in frequency and severity over recent decades, driven primarily by global climate change and unplanned urban expansion. These extreme events cause significant disruptions in essential systems, including sanitation, water supply, food infrastructure, electricity, and general hygiene conditions, creating environments that strongly favor the spread of infectious and zoonotic diseases. Interruptions in sanitation services and direct contact with contaminated water substantially increase the incidence of waterborne diseases such as leptospirosis, hepatitis A, infectious diarrhea, and cholera. Likewise, environmental degradation, waste accumulation, and the formation of breeding sites in post-disaster settings contribute to the expansion of disease vectors and the occurrence of outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and other arboviruses. This integrative review synthesizes scientific evidence published between 2010 and 2024 that examines the relationship between natural disasters and infrastructural failures affecting human, animal, and environmental health. The findings demonstrate that vulnerable populations and regions with precarious infrastructure experience disproportionate impacts, highlighting inequalities in epidemiological risk. The results reinforce the urgent need for prevention, monitoring, and response strategies grounded in the One Health paradigm, which promotes coordinated actions across human health, animal health, and environmental sectors.
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